I’m lucky to work for a company that supports charitable initiatives put forward by employees and Prologis has already pledged £250 toward my fundraising target Martin Cooper, Prologis UK
It’s often said that charity begins at home and, for one Prologis UK employee, this is certainly the case. Martin Cooper, a Vice President in the Project Management team at Prologis UK (and a self-confessed cycling fanatic), has set himself a triple cycle challenge to raise money for Cure Leukaemia, and his challenge will begin in his home town of Worcester.
Stage one of Martin’s cycle challenge will begin on March 22nd as he and seven friends set off from Gheluvelt Park in Worcester and ride to Gheluvelt in Belgium, as a (belated) part of the centenary memorial of the Great War. Starting with a mammoth 275km first leg, over four days Martin and his friends will cycle over 500km from Worcester to Belgium to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate as part of the daily Last Post ceremony.
Stage two of Martin’s challenge is also close to home, but no less challenging, as he tackles the 35th Edition of the Hell of the North Cotswolds (HONC) cycle event on Saturday 14th April. This is a 100km off-road route taking on some of the best (and worst) off-road sections of the Cotswolds. It is held on the same day as the famous spring classic Paris-Roubaix race and seeks to give riders the same experience!
Martins’ fundraising efforts will culminate with his third and final challenge when he participates in this year’s Velo Birmingham on May 12th. Building on the fundraising efforts of fellow Prologis colleague and semi-professional cyclist, Melissa Brand, Martin will join the Cure Leukaemia team for the 160km closed-road ride. This is the second time that Martin has participated in Velo Birmingham for Cure Leukaemia and he hopes to exceed the £1500 he raised previously.
“The ability to combine my love of cycling with fundraising for Cure Leukaemia is a real bonus”, Martin explains. “I’m also lucky to work for a company that supports charitable initiatives put forward by employees and Prologis has already pledged £250 toward my fundraising target.
“I support Cure Leukaemia because blood cancer claimed the life of one of the junior rugby players at the club where I coached, and I also lost a family member to the disease some years ago. The work of the charity is, quite simply, astounding and I am self-funding all of my charity challenges, so every penny of sponsorship will go to Cure Leukaemia.”
In total, Martin’s triple charity challenge will see him complete over 750km in the saddle and, when asked what he’ll most be looking forward to at the end of the challenge, Martin has a couple of things in mind:
“Handing the fundraising total over to Cure Leukaemia will be the highlight,” Martin explains “and I’ll also be looking forward to a celebratory beer or two at the end”.
“Cycling keeps me fit, allows me to see some amazing parts of the world with great friends I’ve made over the years, and indulge in the odd slice of cake without feeling guilty!”
Anyone wishing to donate to Martin’s fundraising efforts can visit his Just Giving page here.